The Wedding Machine

I really enjoyed this book. It stayed with me for a long while after I read it. For those who have had a tough childhood and still pretend to be in a perfect world, it hit home. I could also relate to labors for the church in a behind the scenes way that seems completely senseless but somehow is the glue that binds us to the church and the other ladies doing the same things. It's love. We do it for love and because of something more, a treasure to carry on, get us through life and ultimately all of this helps us to serve and love God. I was comforted by this book. The most wrenching parts for me were Hilda's struggle with her childhood memories and her not getting any help for herself and also the young soldier who was killed in Viet Nam. Lots of things made me cry in this book and I was amazed at the depth of feeling and the broad knowledge that this author was able to bring to life.. I especially was tickled by the purple people eater church description in a strip mall. Now that was funny. Here in the South, you can see a new church popping up every day with some catchy nondenominational name sometimes in your face names to show you they are NOT like the traditional church. They are everywhere here at the same time traditional churches struggle to keep their members who just want to be a place to honor and worship God without all the hoopla of rock concerts. It will be interesting to see how this all falls out now that we are into the second generation of this sad conflict. Will elderly parishoners still want to rock out when they turn 70? Are these new churches only for the young or the forever young? Frankly, I'm just glad that people are going to church!!! I loved the book and am going to recommend it to my Altar Guild friends! LOL. It's sort of pep talk for us.

If you are a fan of Hart's other novels, the The Wedding Machine will not disappoint you! Hart delves into the lives of four middle-aged women who are friends since high school. Written from both the past and present, through the perspective of the four main characters, this charming story gives insight into the mini-culture that is southern weddings. The lives of these interesting, endearing characters will make you laugh out loud and cry some too! Don't miss The Wedding Machine!

Beth Webb Hart's mastery of character development and attention to details in describing her characters' environments never fail to capture my imagination--and The Wedding Machine has successfully captured me once again! I have eagerly awaited the next story that this charming Southern author poured out and ever since I have had it in my hands, I have been lapping it up! I see myself and my friends--and my mother and her contemporaries--in these four characters. Beth Webb Hart has once again 'hit the nail on the head' in depicting the intimate details, struggles, joys and challenges that her characters face. If you aren't from the South and wonder whether her descriptions of people and places and events are accurate, wonder no longer. She knows of what she speaks!

In TWM, BWH pokes fun at her own background in a respectful, endearing manner. I laughed out loud so many times, my husband would ask me what I was reading. When I read to him, he would comment that it sounded JUST like his mama and her dear friends. How great it would be to grow older with sisters like the friends in this book! I'm a midwestern girl married to a lowcountry boy. Southern customs have often seemed a bit foreign and formal to me. (At our wedding, my side of the church arrived on motorcycles. His arrived in white tie and tuxedos!) TWM gave me first-hand insight into the meaning behind the traditions, and it reminded me that we all have more in common than we realize. I especially loved reading that even middle-aged "church ladies" can grow in faith. It gave me hope that God will continue to stretch me over the years. My favorite theme of TWM is "judgement". I was much too quick to judge these characters and their values as being shallow. (Was I doing this in real life??) Each of them had judged the other based on the superficial. They even judged a church based on outward appearance! How often we do this! By only focusing on the surface, you could even miss the deeper meanings of this book! (possibly even miss the point? :)) Though our own Christian and regional traditions differ, a deeper Truth unites us. I almost subtracted a few stars due to the unfortunate treatment of the Jack Russel Terrier. Everyone who loves these little guys KNOWS that they could tear up any ol' gator! Otherwise I highly recommend The Wedding Machine. A great read, especially "below the surface."

I thoroughly enjoyed reading BWH's new book, The Wedding Machine. BWH paints an enjoyable portrait of a small southern town in one of the most beautiful areas of the lowcountry. Each character is vivid, familiar, and interesting. If you enjoyed her other books, you will certainly enjoy this one.